The two companies received the Employer Champion Award for connecting high school students in Barrie and Ancaster with valuable work experience, including job shadowing, school-work transition programs, mentoring and co-operative education placements.

Experiential learning gives students the chance to explore different career opportunities beyond the classroom and provides them with an opportunity to build the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. Helping students achieve success in the classroom and in their future careers is a key goal of Ontario's renewed vision for education. Other goals of the vision include: ensuring equity, promoting well-being and enhancing public confidence.

Supporting student achievement is part of the government's four-part plan to build Ontario up. The plan includes investing in people's talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure savings plan.

Quick Facts

An estimated 40,000 employers across the province provide more than 83,000 high school students with valuable work-related learning opportunities through numerous activities and programs, including Ontario’s Co-operative Education programs.

Approximately 46,000 high school students are enrolled in Specialist High Skills Major programs this year, with each one spending at least 220 hours in co-operative education work placements in their sector of focus.

Additional Resources

Quotes

“We’re very proud to acknowledge Ontario employers who are dedicated to the success and well-being of young people and their communities. By providing meaningful workplace learning opportunities, these employers are helping our students find their passion and develop the skills they need for their future careers.”

Liz Sandals

Minister of Education

“We’ve made a commitment to support young people in the trades. We work closely with local high schools in the Barrie area to provide students with a variety of learning opportunities, including apprenticeships and coop placements. We’ve also had the pleasure of helping the Simcoe County District School Board launch their Precision Metal Cutting program. Our support is a way for our company to help groom the next generation of young workers in our community.”

Jerome Horowitz

Vice President, Brotech Precision CNC

“Over the years, we’ve placed more than 30 high school students in Ancaster and provided them with an opportunity to explore the skilled trades as construction electricians, and also in the utility area. It’s great to see these young people move on, have successful careers and become outstanding citizens of our community.”